THEY can change a room as well as any man, but these girls are finding it tough to get a paint-splattered foot in the door with construction firms.

With the help of children’s charity Barnardo’s, the talented team are excelling in their painting and decorating NVQs, accredited with the Construction Industry Training Board.

They can prepare and paint walls, hang paper and climb scaffolding. But to move towards a full apprenticeship Joanne Hay, 17, from Longbenton; Faye Turnbull, 18, from Wallsend; Stacey Irvine, 17, Samantha Graham, 16, and Anne-Marie Patterson, 17, all from North Shields, need work placements.

And course leaders say they have been surprised by how difficult this has proven to be.

Excuses from firms include concerns about the language on site to toilet facilities.

Of the five, only Joanne has completed a two-week stint in the summer with FM Construction, where she helped to prepare flats in Cramlington.

She said: “Some people are frightened to take girls on but work is just work.

“My placement was all right. I had no problems at all and we were all treated the same while we were there.

“They just asked how long I had been doing it.”

The girls are taught at the charity’s Palmersville Project and have proved among the best in the class of 30.

“Painting and decorating is all right. It’s better than being stuck in the house,” added Joanne.

“It’s different and it’s not something you would normally see lasses doing.”

“I started because it’s better than being stuck in. You learn things like health and safety in the work area.”

Joanne’s fellow student Faye said she was considering painting and decorating as a career and called on North East firms to give the five a chance. She added: “We are as good as any lads.”

Tutor Chris Norris said it was always hard finding work placements for his students and it was proving almost impossible for the women.

He explained: “It’s a male-orientated environment and they are frightened of what happens on a building site.

“There are female decorators out there but trying to find them is very difficult. I think the girls are very good.

“They pay more attention to detail and their paper hanging and painting is excellent.

“It’s a tough business anyway but even tougher for girls.

“There are contracts on places like nursing homes and hospitals with female wards where I am sure they would be happier to have females.”

Any company that can offer the girls a work placement or donate materials should call Chris on (0191) 270 1133.